Light machine gun



Feb. 14, 1933. c. PELO LIHTMAcHINE GUN Filed NOV. 4. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l i ....-..lzssa.lIl@ ,A n mw Feb. 14, 1933. c. PELO LIGHT MACHINE GUN 2 sheets-sheetV 2 Filed Nov. 4, 1950 www@ rrr:

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Patented Feb. 14, 1933 raras CARL PELO, OF TAVASTEHUS, FINLAND LIGHT l'l/IACENE GUN Application filed November 4,

minute is required of a light machine gun, for which it is necessary that the movable parts of the gun co-operate with extreme accuracy. Experience has shown that different disturbances very often arise in light machine guns of the various types at present known. The causes therefor are to be attributed to various circumstances. rThese guns are often constructed o f a greatY many parts, thus obviously increasing possibilities for derangement; the internal parts are often dificultly accessible, thus interfering with rapid repair of the trouble; sometimes the movable parts operate more or less independently of each other, although'endeavor has been made to provide positive operation D of these parts. It has also been endeavored to make the movement of the breech block positive with respect to the movement of the breech sleeve together with the barrel,` but the means used therefor have been shown to be unreliable in operation. `This defect is eliminated if, in accordance with the invention, the positive operation is eiiected by a two-part angle link constructed as a rack drive, which forms the connection between the breech and thel slide. A very simple and strong gun construction is produced thereby.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section through the gun with its working parts in their foremost position.

Fig. 2 shows a similar section with the working parts in their hindmost position.

Fig. 3 shows the cartridge insertion mechanism seen in section along the Vline A-B in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows the cartridge insertion mechanism seen inv section along the line C--D in Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is a section along the line E-F in Fig. 4.

By the influence of the reaction pressure of the powder gases the barrel 1 and the barrel extension 2, which is in rigid connection 1930, Serial No. 493,389, and in Finland December 2, 1929.

with the barrel, slide backwards. The breech 3 is connected with the barrel extension 2 by connecting linkrods, in the shown example a kneejoint, consisting of a link 14 revolving round a pin 5 in the barrel extension 2 and a second link 6, the ends of which are in turnable connection partly with the breech 3 and partly with the above-mentioned link 4. The end of the link 4 embracing the pin 5 is formed into a toothed segment 7 corresponding with a toothed bar 8 in the lid of the breech box. During the first phase of the backward movement of the barrel extension '2-i. e. as long as the bullet still is within the barrelthe toothed segment 7 does not engage the toothed bar 8 because the kneejoint 4-6 remains stretched so that the breech 3 closes the barrel 1. Any bending of the said kneej oint during the first vphase of movement is prevented thereby, as shown in Fig. 1, that one of the teeth in the toothed segment 7 bears on one of the teeth of the toothed bar 8 so that the kneej oint cannot bend before the said tooth of the toothed segment 7 has slid jonto a space between the teeth of the toothed ar 8.

When the bullet has left the barrel, the toothed segment 7 engages the toothed bar 8 and the kneejoint bends, i. e., the breech 3 opens. The cartridge shell in the cartridge chamber 10 is extracted by the action of the extractor claw 11 and ejected through the outlet openings 13 and 14 in the side walls of the barrel extension 2 and the breech box 12. The ejector device consists of a guide 15 vwhich can be displaced along the side of the breech 3 and during the backward movement of the breech 3 strikes against a stop 16 in the side of the breech box 12 whereby it is pushed forward in relation to the breech 3, the latter continuously sliding backwards whereby the cartridge shell is ejected.

The new cartridge is conveyed on this occasion from the opposite side of the breech box 12 by means of a feed block 17 on thebottom of a feed chamber 18 on which the cartridge magazine is fixed. rlfhe feed block 17 swings to and fro by means of 'a two-armed lever 19, 20, which is fixed to the feed block 17 the movement ofthe said-parts being ythereby positively controlled. During its forward movement the barrel extension 2 pushes the arm 19 of the lever outwards, the arm 20 of the same lever swinging into a recess 21 in the side wall of the barrel eXtension 2. During the backward movement of the barrel extension the arm 19 again swings into the recess 21, the arm20 being under the action of a spring 22 which continuously pulls it outwards. Thus the feed block 17 is swung to and fro and inserts every time a new cartridge.

During the backward movement of the barrel extension .s and` the breech the striking hammer 24, which isv revolvingly journalled in` the lower part lof the breech'box 12, is cocked by means of a stop 25 on the sliding contrivance 2 which stop strikes against the striking hammer. The spring 26 of the striking hammer 24,is hereby setto act and its catch 27 clicks in behind a catcher consisting of a revolving pin 28, provided with a notch 29on that side ofthe pin which is turned against the striking hammer-24. The pin 28 is providedrwithan' arm 30 actuated by a spring 31 Awhich turns the pin 28 in such a direction vthat the catch`27 is hooked as soon as lit has slid through the-notch 29.

During the backstroke of the vbreech 3 and' the barrel extension 2. the recoil spring 32 is vset to act by a draw rod 33, which is linked to another draw rod 34 revolvingly fixed to the rear link 4 inthe kne'ejoint 3 of the breech. The fore link 6 is provided with a catch 35 'which when the barrel kextension 2 and the breech 3 are in their hindmost positions conditionally clicks in a recess in the other end 36 of a two-armed lever 36, 37 belonging to the trigger mechanism'and being under the action of a spring 38. Condition of the clicking of the catch in the recess is that the lever 36, 37 is not swung out of the path of the link 6 by means of the trigger 39 as shown in Fig.` 1. If the end 36 of the lever 36, 37 on the other hand is in the position shown in F ig. 2, Vthe moving part-s will remain in their hindmost positions. n

V`We Will suppose thecase shown in Fig. 1 to be in question. Under the action of the recoil spring 32 the barrel extension 2 and the breech 3 The new cartridge just conveyed from the magazine will be inserted in the cartridge chamber. Wfhen a rigid connection has taken place between the breech 3 and the barrel 1 a stop '40 on the sidewall of the barrel extension 2 strikes against the aforesaid arm 30 on the catcher pin 28 of the striking hammer 24 and turns this pin 28 so that the striking hammer 24 will be released and strike against the tiring pin of the breech 3 so that the charge is tired 0E whereupon the gun reloads itself or in other words a series firing takes place. rY

- The gun may be adjusted alternatively for are immediately drawn forward by means of an adjusting mechanism in the Y .form of a revolving pin 41 the side of which 1s provided with a notch. By series liring i i the pin 41 is adjusted so that the notch is turned towards the trigger 39, which in this case can be brought to its hindmost position. l/Vhen the notch is turned away from the trigger 39 the latter in consequence ofthe pin 41 cannot be brought as long rearwards. The gun of a single charge.

The trigger 39 is provided with a pawl 42 which when the trigger is pressed backwards raises the arm 37 of the lever 36, 37 so that the working parts are released from the position shown in Fig. 2. The pawl 42 is, however, swung immediately so that the lever 36, 37 can return to itsformer position under the action of the spring' 38 this movement being possible by the means of a. notch 43 in the lever in which the end of the pawl 42enters. 1f

most position the same, after the pawl 42 has entered in the notch 43, will itself bearthe trigger 39 now can move to its hind-v is in this case adjusted'for firing Y backwards the arm 36 of the lever 36, 37 rises again, the arm 37 inv this casenot being-able to strike againstthe trigger 39.

Thus either series firing or single firing is possible and in both cases the working parts remain in their hindmost positions and the breech thus remains open after the termina-- tion of the tiring.

The working parts can be moved `backwards by means of a hand lever 44 which is journalled on the side wall of the breech box and with a thumb 45 engages a recess 46 in the side wall of the barrel extension 2. If after the termina-tion of the firing the working parts have been allowed to pass forward by pressure on the trigger, the gun can be reloaded by means of the hand lever44.

In the drawings only the breechand feed` ing mechanisms of the gun are illustrated, but it is understood that the gun is to be provided with the usual elements, such as ad-v breech and slide are4 connected by a toggle V mechanism wherein the link connected with the slide,at its pivot point on the latter, is formed as a gear segment, and a stationary rack is provided in the breech housing, whereby the gear crown rollsalong. theV rack during the movement of the rack relative to the sli e.

2. Light machine gun with positive movement of the breech block relative to the breech sleeve together with the barrel, wherein the breech and slide are connected by a toggle mechanism, wherein the link connected with the slide, at its pivot point o-n the latter, is formed as a gear segment, and a stationary rack is provided in the breech housing, and

wherein the gear crown and rack are so arranged t-hat, during the first phase of the recoil of the barrel and the last phase of the advance movement, a tooth of the segment is l5 applied against a tooth of the rack and slides along the latter, so that the tooth segment is prevented from rotation.

3. Light machine gun with positive movement of the breech block relative to the breech 20 sleeve together with the barrel, wherein the breech and slide are connected by a toggle mechanism wherein the link connected with the slide, at its pivot point on the latter, is formed as a gear segment and a stationary rack is provided in the breech housing and wherein, for actuating the feed member of the gun, a double armed lever is journalled in the magazine and which, in turn, is actuated by a depression provided in the lateral wall 39 of the slide.

4. Light machine gun with positive move- Y ment of the breech block relative to the breech sleeve together with the barrel, wherein the breech and slide are connected by a toggle if) mechanism wherein the link connected with the slide, at its pivot point on the latter, is formed as a gear segment, and a stationary rack is provided in a part connected to the breech housing, wherein the gear crown rolls along the rack during the movement of the rack relative to the slide.

5. Light machine gun with positive movement of the breech block relative to the breech sleeve together with the barrel, wherein the "i5 breech and slide are connected by a toggle mechanism wherein the link connected with the slide, at its pivot point on the latter, is

formed as a gear segment, and a stationary rack is provided in a part connected to the 59 breech housing, and wherein the gear crown and rack are so arranged that, during the first phase of the recoil of the barrel and the last phase of the advance movement, a tooth of the rack slides along the latter, so that Q the tooth segment is prevented from rotation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification.

CARL PELO. 

